Death wobble in motion usually on the highway
2013 Ford F-350 suspension problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
When does it fail?
Of the 14 suspension complaints filed for the 2013 Ford F-350, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Fourteen complaints describe a consistent and dangerous failure: the "death wobble." It hits at highway speeds (50+ mph) when the truck strikes even minor bumps or rough pavement, causing the front end and steering wheel to oscillate violently. Owners lose steering authority and must brake hard or slow dramatically to stop the shaking—some have had to come to abrupt stops in traffic lanes because they couldn't safely pull over.
The event is unpredictable and difficult to reproduce consistently, making diagnosis and repair challenging. Some owners report it escalating in frequency and severity over weeks or months. Repair shops have replaced ball joints, track bars, tie rod ends, drag links, steering dampers, and springs—costs range from $1,700 to $5,000—yet the wobble recurs. One suspension shop found no failed components. One owner installed an additional steering stabilizer bracket after spending $5,000 and still experiences the problem. Owners note Ford recalled this issue on later-model trucks but has taken no action on the 2013 F-350. The manufacturer has not offered a remedy beyond advising a return to the dealer.
Same Ford F-350 suspension reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble - Violent front-end shake on bumps
Owners report uncontrollable violent shaking of the front end, steering wheel, and entire truck triggered by hitting bumps, rough road patches, or bridge joints at highway speeds and above. The violent oscillation forces owners to brake hard or slow dramatically to regain control. Shaking is severe enough to throw loose items around and make steering difficult or impossible during the event.
When: Occurs at speeds as low as 40 mph in some cases, but most frequent at 55 mph and above. Can happen on first occurrence or escalate in frequency and severity over weeks or months. One owner reported initial onset in 2020 at 150k miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking of front end and steering wheel when hitting bumps or rough pavement; Loss of steering control or difficulty maneuvering during shake; Shake persists until vehicle is slowed significantly; Steering wheel becomes difficult to control; Objects thrown from door pockets or loose storage; Check engine light may illuminate; General looseness in steering feel and exaggerated movement over rough roads
Codes mentioned: Check Engine warning (P0xxx - unspecified in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacing: ball joints, track bar/tracking bar assembly, track bar bushings, tie rod ends, drag link, steering damper/stabilizer shock, spring mounts, all four tires, and installing additional steering stabilizer brackets. Repairs range from $1,700 to $5,000. Despite multiple repair attempts by dealers and independent shops, the wobble recurs in several cases. One suspension shop unable to identify failed components.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; advised to return to dealer but offered no further assistance. One owner notes Ford is aware of the issue and has recalled it on later model trucks but has not addressed 2013 model. No recall program mentioned for 2013 F-350.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
While driving in excess of 55 MPH on all road surfaces the front end will randomly go into a violent front end wobble. The vehicle shakes violently as to throw heavy items from the door pockets and prevent steering the vehicle. We have replaced a suspected steering components with no remedy. We understand that a similar issue with this vehicle occurred in a later model truck and has been…
I am the original owner and began experiencing the death wobble in 2020. I put $5k into my suspension and put an additional steering stabilizer bracket to still experience the wobble. It’s dangerous and has nearly made me wreck with my only child onboard. Something has to be done. This is a known issue that Ford will not address or repair properly. These vehicles are not cheap and we should…
As I drive on the freeway, if I hit even the smallest bump or rough patch in the road, the vehicle begins to shake violently and the only way to stop the shaking is to slow way down to an almost complete stop. It is difficult to see and steer to control vehicle. Often I am not able to pull over to the side of the road to stop and end up stopping in a lane in the middle of the freeway. This is…
Had suspension trouble with your 2013 Ford F-350?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2013 Ford F-350?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 105,186 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Ford/F-350.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.